Plastic sheet composition.



A. THOIVIA.

PLASTIC SHEET COMPOSITION.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14. 1906,

957,394; Patented May 10, 1910.

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ANDREW THOMA, F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 THOMA CORPORATION, OF PORTLAND, MAINE. I

PLASTIC SHEET COMPOSITION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May to, mac.

Application filed November 14, 1906. Serial No. 343,317.

To all whom 'itrnay concern: p

Be it known that I, ANDREW THOMA, a citizen of the United: States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 'Plastic'Sheet Composition, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

For various purposes-e. g. in shoes, car

riage-leathers, harness, furniture, etc.-it is desirable to have alight, porous, watercepting as to certain of the more restricted claims containedat the end of this specification), I will hereinafter refer particularly by way of illustration to innersoles, and will explain my invention in the various details from the manufacture of theoriginal special material and the various steps of its use to said final finished article.

I provide a tough, pliable, flexible sheet of composition, which I mold or conform locally, so as to provide,.for instance, a stitch-receiving rib, by applying a female mold to one side and a plane pressure plate to the opposite side of the sheet, and then,

while leaving the main body of the sheet intact and undisturbed, pressin said mold and plate toward each other untll the cavity of the mold is occupied by a relief portion, but Without disturbing the integrity of the sheet or its internal structure and strength.

While. my invention is capable of many variations, preferably]: dependupon vulcanizing a pulp and upon the further new principle of introducing into the mass an ingredient which permits the vulcanized mass to relent or respond under heat suf ficiently to assume under compression the desired form without losing any of its required properties above mentioned. In

other words, I first compound the mass with the requisite ingredients for providing the desired porous, light, tough, pliable, waterproof qualities in the resultant material, the ingredients of said mass including means for producing a soft or partial vulcanization, and for permittin the semi-vulcanized material to relent su ciently to be compressed into innersoles or the like, and to receive the local molded configuration required for forming thestitch receiving lip or other local. configuration according to Whatever article is being formed, and for .recovering, upon quickly cooling or setting,

the original vulcanized condition. Then I calender, sheet and vulcanize the material. v

I then block it out, soften it, supersoftening one surface thereof, mold it in a novel manner with simpl a female d1e, no complemental male die member being used, this step also condensing the porous material, and cool it, thereby permanently settin the shape and character of the finishe article. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate portions of my process and the finished article, the article being claimed in this patent, and the process in a divisional case, Serial No. 352,162.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the sheet fabric in one of its preferred forms; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View illustrating the manner'of molding or I forming a configuration on said fabric; Fi s. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of di erent forms of molds; and Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of the products shaped by the molds of Figs; 8 and 4 respectively.

My object is to provide sheet material of great pliability and adaptability, which shall at the same time be incapable of stretching lengthwise or widthwise and shall have a surface tenacity and toughness capable of holding and retainingstitches under great strain, as in a shoe or in any other articles previously mentioned, and shall be absolutely waterproof, unchangeable, and comparatively light, cheaper than leather, and shall cost much less than leather to manipulate and make into the finished product.

Although myinvention may be carried out and embodied in a wide variety of steps and products, I deem my preferred method and product so superior to the others that, for convenience of presentation and clearness of understanding, I will at once describe the invention from that standpoint.

The fabric which constitutes the basis of my invention is preferably composed of a layer of heavy, strong textile material, such as 10 to l5-ounce duck or canvas, as an outside skin or layer 1 and a back or body 2 of special vulcanizable or heat influenced compound, and preferably a third layer or outside skin 3 of finer, lighter textile material, such as 8-ounce sock-lining canvas. The composition and the canvas, whether the latter is on one side only or on both sides, are calendered and pressed together until thoroughly incorporated into each other, the ingredients of the composition being such that the material not only is firmly pressed into the meshes of the cotton fabric, but penetrates into the fabric, and which, under the heating or vulcanizing produces the light, porous, durable, pliable, tough, waterproof, etc., qualities required. Also it is desirable to previously friction the cloth as hereinafterdescribed.

Various attempts have been made to combine layers of canvas withrubber and guttapercha compounds interposed in the form of a sheet or tissue between two layers of canvas'or in other plastic form, but as r'epared and proposed these diifer entirely rom my invention, as they not only deteriorate in use, and the rubber is heating or drawing, but they are used mainly as a mere cement or' plastic binder, and are incapable of effecting the homogeneous or unitary body and article which it is my aim to produce. Also, when rubber is vulcanized it is incapable of being molded'and shaped or pressed and oth- ,erwise treated, as required of my. product.

' The intermediary layer of vulcanizable.

composition is composed of paper pulp or stock, wood pulp, fibrous waste, shoddy, or unk, residuum of etroleum, wax tailings, litharge, sulfur an palm oil. A material of this nature may be massed in large quantities and rolled and sheeted upon a fabric layer of' any desired length and calendered as explained, and especially when faced by two layers of strong fabric and subjected to both pressure and heat sufiicient to flux and to semi-vulcani'ze the mass as a whole the union of the three layers and the change wrought by the heating process are such as to produce a sheet fabric of suflicient thickness and strength for the purpose explained and admirably adapted to the special molding processfor forming innersoles and the like as hereinafter explained.

I wish it understood that the ingredients of my compound can be selected from a great number of materials, but to make the invention clearly understood I will classify the ingredients, such classification indicating which will serve the purpose of the filler or body and likewise to some extent of the binder, such as the shoddies of reclaimed rubber (devulcanized rubber), semi-vulcanized or unvulcanized factory scrap, waste rubber; coagulated or sulfureted or 0x1 dized oils, and many of the so-called rubber substitutes. The vulcanizing ingredients and mineral filler which may be employed are sulfur, litharge, white lead, whiting, and ground slate. And the mineral binding agents used are wax tailings, petroleum residuum, hydro-carbon, such as kapak, min eral rubber, gilsonite, etc animal tar such as stearin pitch, coal 'tar, soft or hard. Under this head of mineral binding agents it is possible to use, but with inferior results, asphalts such as Trinidad, Egyptian, Manjack or the like, which are effective in binding the mass but are too adhesive to facilitate roperly the milling or mixing and sheeting, presently described,as they adhere to the rolls and interfere with the quick mixing and delivering of the stock.

I select from the enumerated ingredients sufficient quantities of the filler material, binding and vulcanizing agents to be able to mass and sheet the stock onto the fabric layer. A reat variety of selections is possible from t e ingredients mentioned, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and accordingly I will mention a sample formula by way of illustration. Of bulk-giving or filler ingredients I use 3 pounds wood-pulp, 3 pounds leather dust,

12 pounds of junk (rubber scrap stock),-"

and pound of jute or cotton shoddy, and .of mineral filler 7 pounds of whiting. To the foregoing I add 3% pounds of litharge and l-i pounds of sulfur as the'vulcanizing stated, produces at 265 degrees Fahrenheit a soft cure in about forty-five minutes, so

, eev-eeai 1 'sbserb the dry, fibrous and mineral ingrediants and materially assist in the vulcanizing process. The melting point of all but the avax tailings is near the vulcanizing 50m,

so that the vulcanizing action is not impeded by any part of the mass, but on the contrary the compound is such that a soft vulcanization of the pulp-like mass can take place at the comparatively low temperature of about 265 degrees, which will not injure the cloth and yet will produce a backing or intermediate filling of vulcanized pulp vuloanized to the textile material. This is secured by applying a female mold to one side and a plane pressure plate to the opposite side of the com osite sheet, and then, while leaving the mam body of the sheet intact and undisturbed, pressing said mold and plate toward each other until the cavity of the mold is occupied by a raised or relief -\portion,-but without disturbing the integrity of the sheet or its internal structure and strength. The mass is first compounded with the requisite ingredients for providing the desired porous, light, tough, pliable,

waterproof qualities in the resultant material, said ingredients including means for producing a soft vulcanization and for permitting the vulcanized material. to relent s'uflicientlyto be compressed into innersoles or the like and to receive the local molded configuration, and for recovering, upon quickly cooling or setting, the originalvulcanized condition.

Having prepared and thoroughly mixed the mass of body-giving materials, as above explained, I calender and sheet the same by the calendering-method and means at present commonly employed in rubber factories for treating rubber compounds. This is the most convenient means to bring about the spreading of the thick layer of my comounce duck, being thereby incorporated and embedded firmly into the, meshes of the coarse cotton fabric. Then, if an opposite textile layer is to be employed, the thin, light, finer canvas is calendered and pressed upon the top of this thick sheeted mass previously ,calendered and pressed, so that the three layers are practically incorporated together as a whole. Next the unitedor composite sheet thus formed is wound tightly in lengths of 25 to 50 yards on large iron drums and placed in large vulcanizing boilers, as used by the trade, or shorter lengths,

according to the size of the press, are pressed between heated steam plates in a usual vulcanizing steam press and are heated "as already explained. One of the distinguishing features of my invention will be apparent in the vulcanizing process, as my ingredients or compound, when under the vulcanizing influence, fluxes .at a comparatively low temperature as-above mentioned, and sets so as to form a firm, flexible, porous mate rial, protected by the outer layers of strong fabric, the length of time varying according to the selection of the'ingredients, the degree of heat employed and the method of curing. or by-a pressure heat, the wet heat process of curing under atmosphereic pressure being alwaysapplied when the material is firmly secured and wound tightly as above explained, and giving thebest results with the preferred compounds. The kind of vulcanizing process and the length of time, etc, are selected according to the necessity for economy, etc.

The wax tailings producea strong permeating quality and help to soften the dry, fibrous filling material, so that the action of The latter may be by a wet heat the sulfur and the drying influence of the litharge and tluxing and setting of the whole mass take place during the vulcanizmg heating; and the hydro-carbon constituents also permit of the subsequent softening of the vulcanized mass or sheet for the molding process without injury to the mass and quality and without destroying or changing any of the desirable qualities which have been sc cured. When cold and set after heating or semi-vulcanization the sheet is firm and strongly flexible, somewhat like leather, but is capable of softening at once under strong heat, so as toconform readily, quickly and permanently to the desired molded shape. It is this capacity, together with the light, porous nature of the material, which is of the greatest importance in my invention and which it has been my main object to secure. These features together with the fact that the material is tough, always pliable and workable, and waterproof, adapt the material 'admirably to the field of use alreadv mentioned,and particularly to the manu' facture of innersoles.

The proportion of vulcanizing material a neitherflabby nor hard, but will befirm and strongand'flexible, as I'have said, by which I mean that it is as-near as possible like firm, grain leather, such as is commonly used for the best kinds of innersoles, in its toughness, pliability and yielding nature.

As already explained, the wax tailings become highly fluid below the vulcanizing temperature, and being of an extremely penetrating nature, they flux and immediately penetrate, Work through and permeate the entire mass. All the other tarry ingredients under the influence of heat (at or. about 265 degrees F.) become plastic more or less, but they are not of a sufliciently penetrating nature to accomplish desirable results without the lower melting, highly fluid and penetrating element which is provided by wax tailings or an equivalent soft residuum (such as are sometimes called oxidized petroleum residuums). I accomplish the vulcanizing of the entire mass preferably between 265 and 275 degrees F.

In the formula above presented any of the l tough so-called hydro-carbons such as kapak I ployed) can be used, and any of the hard and more or less brittle so-called residuums, and either the soft or hard wax tailings (if the soft are used a slightly less amount would be em- The low melting penetrating ingredient employed, whether wax tailings or other soft or semi-hard, low melting, penetrating, readily fluxing petroleum residuum product or coagulated oil, accomplishes the i'luxing of all the ingredients and brings about a homogeneous vulcanized mass, while the presence of the hydrocarbons in general or sulfureted oils makes the sheeted material impressionable and permanently 1noldable henever exposed to a high heat (between 240 and 270 degrees F.) without destroying the structural strength of the material. Rubber and rubber compounds when vulcanized cannot be softened or melted without first destroying their structural nature and in doing so they require a still higher degree of heat, which would be ruinous to the enveloping cotton element of my combination. Also not only do I secure the moldable capability by my compound and process, but I obtain a material which is normally entirely stable and is non-responsive.

to any ordinary heat to which a leather article would ever be subjected, so that when made int-o an innersole, for instance, it will not be influenced in the least by the heat of the foot. In speaking of my material being influenced by heat I refer to strong heat of about 240 to 265 degrees Fahrenheit.

Having prepared the sheet material, I block it out in pieces of the requisite length and width to be out without unnecessary waste into solesfor instance, by way of concrete illustration. These pieces are then laid with the heavy cotton fabric downward upon steam heated plates maintained at about 265 degrees F. so as to apply the strongest heat to that side of the material which is to be influenced. The material quickly softens and swells, especially on the heavy fabric side, although remaining absolutely intact and unaffected otherwise. The heated piece, indicated at t in the drawings, is then removed from the heating plate and is prefer ably placed heated side up on a convenient press plate 5 whereupon the shaping mold is immediately brought forcibly down onto the softened or influenced side 1 of the piece.

The mold will have the special configuration which it is desired the finished product to have. In the illustrations I have shown molds adapted to form the material into innersoles, Fig. 2 showing a mold 6 having grooves 7 for shaping the material to form a usual stitch-receiving rib or lip 8. It will be understood that various sha' ed channel grooves and projecting ribs or ips may be formed with facility in the material simply byproviding the mold of the required shape. These mayor may not be for the purpose of. receiving actual stitches, but I use this term to cover a raised or molded rib on the tough, non-stretchable surface capable of receiving holding means of the kind required for the given, place or position where the article is to be used or secured, as in harness manufacture, carriage or automobile work, shoe manufacture or whatever it may be. The mold 6 is brought down witha suflicient pressure to force the softened vulcanized material to change position, whereupon the partly yielding mass presses itself up into the groove rather than flattening out to any great extent in all directions, as might be expected would be the case. My process does not require any male member for makin the hp 8 as the vulcanized mass 2 has sullicient stability and. integrity of structure, aided by its penetrating and interlocking grip of the fabric, to compel the main body ormass of the sheet to remain substantially unchanged, yielding toward the point of no resistance 7 only ]11Sl3 suflicient to fill the groove 7 without injury to the vulcanized structure of the material. The composition simply permits the softened top surface to yield at and toward the groove 7 so as to fill the groove and produce the desired local configuration, which in the instance illustrated is a stitch-receiving lip. The bottom fabric 3 aids in holding the lower portions of the sheet against movement and cooperates with the flat presser plate in converging the pressure to the point 7 of least resistance.

I prefer to employ cold molds moved quick y under heavy pressure, so that the material is hardened and sets at once, leaving, when the, mold is withdrawn, a perfectly formed channel ridge or stitch-receiving lip or other local configuration, in relief on the surface of the sole or piece 4, according to the shape or kind of mold used and when used cold is conveniently used close to suitable steam plates or other heating means -for suitably softening the blocked out shape.

pieces of the material on that side which is to be impressed. The pressure is applied for a very short time only andjthe cooling takes place during the compression, so that when the mold is removed the article retains permanently and without change its molded It is convenient to have two press compartments, tliereby regulating the time of-ipressure of one press. to the length of time required fol-emptying and refilling the other press, and so alternating from one to the other. More expeditious results, and in some respects better results, may be obtained by' confining the pressure to a smaller regio'n.;as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, where it will be seen that the middle portion 9 of the piece 4 did not receive any considerable pressure, but the main pressure was applied simply along the V-shaped grooves 10. and

11 and at the outside margins 12, 13. By-

this means the stitch-receiving ribs 14 and '15 may be formed with still greater speed than when the pressure is distributed evenly over the entire surface as in Fig. 2. This also produces better results in not disturbing the greater portion of the duck and body material. All the ingredients selected for the body portion of the sheet material render the latter SLIfl'lClGI Itly' economical to' nable me, to have a fairly thick body from which -to press the innersole or other article,

and accordingly the innersole may be .left

with a full center or innerportion 9, there by requiring no so-called bottom filler for leveling up the shoe after theinnersole, upper andwelt have been stitched together to receive the outer sole. For this reason also I prefer .to provide the innersole with the shape of stitch-receiving lip shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and preferably the latter, as thereby ,.:'after the-sewing of the upper and welt iirglplace, the thin projecting end of the rib 15-or the blunter end ofthe rib l t-may be rolled down to a perfect level with the central bottom portion 9 fillin the groove 11 a or 10 and covering in the st1tch completely,

this leveling down being accomplished by. a

, pressure roll. A shoe bottom constructed in outer sole is in actual contact with the inner sole itself. I do notllimit. myself-however to any particular shape of channel or rib, .as

permits of a wide variety in this respect.

The mold for accomplishing the above results may be made in any desired manner, but preferably the body portion is con structed of wood, as indicated at 16, and the desired li and groove configuration may be brought a out by a narrow strip of nietal 17 being secured in proper position on the face of the wood, having a sharp projecting part 18 and a groove 19, or the wood itself may simply be cut to the desired shape as indicated in Fig. 4, where the groove 20 is cut down into the block leaving a peripheral ledge 21 and pointed projecting part 22. These forms of molds provide not only an lit will be readily seen that my invention easy construction of the mold itself, but

quick withdrawal of the mold from the pressed sole, and also produce an innersole channel which facilitates the free action of the needle and awl duringthe sewing operation. The periphery of the mold is the same in size and shape as the pattern used on the rounding machine for rounding the innersole, "so that all the surplus material beyond the mold, see Fig. 2, is subsequently trimmed off, and also the mold itself is used as the immediately rounded out, and the sole then removed, whereupon the mold is ready to produce another impression: \Vhile this could all be accomplished at the factory where the sheet material is made, I regard it as one of the advantages of my invention that the sheet material, blocked out, can if preferred be sold-to the shoe manufacturers ready for them individually to mold, etc.,

according to the special system or other peculiarities of their respective factories. All

the diflicult work is done first, leaving only the simple and inexpensive work for the shoe factories.

l have already'emphasized the fact that,

readily and completely absorbing during the heat vulcanization under pressurethe fluxing portions of the compound topractically the same extent {as the filler ,partsof the comp und are impregnated V and incorporated with said fiuxlng and binding ingredients. By this means I am enabled to entirely eliminate the well-known moisture absorbing feature of the leatherbetween the sole and introduce any objectionable heating or drawing tendency, as my material although possesslng certain of the general charaeteris tics of rubber products is more like a pulp compound, not being heavy and dense like rubber but light and porous. The composition of my filling ingredients gives an internal granular or light-fibrous structure which provides a proper condition in the center of the mass, which helps to lighten the material so that it still further resembles leather. This spongy structure of the material is also of advantage in aiding to bring about what I consider one of the most strikingly novel and fundamental characteristics of my invention, namely the capacity of the vulcanized mass to be pressed into permanently local shape without destroying its structure. Also the capacity of the heated semi-vulcanized sheet to receive and retain any fixed shape or impress while the sheet is cooling is not only of importance as to the finished product but is of practical importance and value in facilitating the speed, ease and accuracy of the work, and this isespecially true in making shoes, where such results are of special value. These'results are brought about by providing a material which is partially vulcanized to a permanent consistency for fixing its general character and yet is capable of becoming momentarily sufficiently relenting to be pressed into molded shape for innersoles and the like. The presence of a sufiicient amount of hydro-carbon matter (using that term to include the resinous oily tailings, the natural,

and artificial harder tarry residuums and as- 1 toughness of the mass, Will be rendered'imphaltums) in the composition not only permits this relenting of the mass under high heat notwithstanding its vulcanization, but maintains the material .unchangeable and prevents its gradual oxidation or deteriorating when exposed in use. lit will be under stood that a full vulcanization does not take place but only a soft or partial vulcanization, insufficient to render the sheet stiff or interfere with its free flexibility and toughbending capability Without tendency to break. I

The extreme workability, pliability, adaptability and strength of my material render .it especially serviceable for various uses in the manufacture .of shoes, but particularly for innersoles, as mentioned; and to make this point still clearer I would explain that each shoe manufacturer commonly has his own individual shapes and styles of shoes, and as the peripheral outlines of the stitchreceiving rib of the innersole is what determines the outline sha e of the shoe, it will be understood that it is not possible to man-,

ufacture channeled innersoles in quantity for general sale, and for the same reason it is impracticable to supply innersole patterns to the trade to suit the various manufacturers. Hence my material and method or process whereby the stitch-receiving rib and channel can be molded by the simple appliceases cation of a grooved board or die withoutrequiring male and female members or other complicated mechanism, renders my invention of particular service and value for this purpose, as each manufacturer may thereby readily and cheaply make his own innersoles. It not only permits the molding of all varieties and patterns of innersoles at small expense to suit the caprices of the various manufacturers, but it produces absolute uniformity of outline in all the innersoles of any one mold or pattern, thereby eliminating the common inaccuracy of shape or outline now frequently due in part to the workmen in cutting and shaping the lips and in part to the varying initial qualities as to stretching of the leather stock.

I do not herein claim the particular forms of innersoles nor the apparatus, but reserve them for separate applications, as l intend the present application and'my co-pending divisional application to be foundational and cover my invention broadly as to the process and product or material (the divisional case containing the process claims).

For economy and efficiency on account of its porosity and puffy nature, I use pulplike filler material which is also the cheapest, but it will be understood that any partially Vulcanizable mass, including rubber and its substitutes, and reclaimed varieties, if provided with a sufiicient amount of preferably hydro-carbon matter to undermine by heat the permanent consistency and pressionable and capable of treatment as described, and will come within certain of my claims hereinafter set forth. But in addition to the fact of cheapness, mentioned. the composition which I have laid most stress upon above, is preferable because it doesnotdraw or heat the foot, as a rubber compound would. Moreover its porosity aids materially in molding the innersole, permeating the fabric layers, etc. Also certain features of my invention can be carried out without employing vulcanization, as, for example, in such substances as linoleum, I have found that by slight changes it is possible to render the cork and oxidized oil composition impressionable under heat, as described. Again, some compositions, as gutta-p'ercha admixed with fibrous filler, can be molded cold, under high pressure. And, finally, the article may be molded to its final shape when first made, instead of first being sheeted, etc, reheated and molded. Of. course, if the vulcanization is omitted, the vulcanizing ingredients of the compound will preferably be omitted also, the remaining ingredients of the compound having the fluxing or softening capacity in the presence of-heat to permit the preliminary saturating and mixing action to take place 'Within the compound and to permit the.

. and fibers thereof.

subsequent incorporation of the compound into the duck or other textile layer'so as to interlock and mechanically grip the strands The degree of heat, in such instance, would be-merely sufficient to provide proper working condit'ions.- I intend also to include as coming within my invention the provision of the moldable and molded composition, whether with or without the fabric layer or layers, as the stitchreceiving surface strength may be provided in other ways, and when cloth 1s used it may be cemented or otherwise applied to the molded body as in the usual process of making gem innersoles. variations from my preferred procedure to make clear the broad scope of my invention, but all these are inferior for various reasons to the method and article which I have ex- ,plained at length above.

Having described my inventidn, what 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, t

1. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canvas, a body-backing having its surface incorporated into said canvas and containing comminuted pulp-like filler material and penetrating tarry ingredients, the whole being fluxed together by heat into a tough, waterproof, strongly flexible, leatherlike sheet.

2. The herein described article, consisting of a efaliiic sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canvas, a body-backing having its surface incorporated 1nto said canvas and containing commmuted pulp-like filler material and penetrating tarry ingredients, the

whole being fiuxed together by heat and pressure into a tough, waterproof, strongly flexible, leather-like sheet.

3. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canyas provided with an outstanding stitch-receiving Ilb formed integrally from said canvas, a body-backing having its surface incorporated into said canvas and contaming comminuted pulp-like filler material and penetrating tarry ingredients, the whole being fluxed together by heat and pressure into a tough, waterproof, strongly flexible, leather-like sheet.

4:. The herein described article, consisting of a firm, strongly flexible, waterproof, pliable, leather-like sheet, composed of opposite layers of textile material, and an intervening body composed of pulp-like filler material permeated with-low-melting, penetrating hydro-carbon, the whole being incorporated together by heat and pressure into mutually permeating interlocked relation.

. 5. The herein described article, consisting of a porous, firm, stron ly flexible, waterproof, pliable, leather-1i e sheet, composed ofppposite layers of textile material, and an I mention all these intervening body composed of pu1p-like filler material permeated with low melting,

penetrating hydro-carbon, the whole being incorporated together by heat and pressure into mutually permeating interlocked relation..

waterproof, pliable, leather-like sheet.

8. The herein described article, comprising a light, porous, waterproof, tough sheet having a cloth outer layer united therewith by having the surface portion of said sheet incorporated into interlocked and permeating engagement with the strands and fibers thereof, said article relenting to a. soft condition under the influence of. heat under 275 degrees F. without permanent injury to 1ts structural strength and setting instantly to molded shape upon being cooled.

9. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canvas, and body-backing incorporated into said canvas and containing comminuted pulp like filler material and penetrating tarry ingredients, the Whole being vulcanized together into a tough, Waterproof, strongly flexible, leather-like sheet.

10. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, coinposedbf. pulp-like filler material permeated with low-melting, vulcanizable, penetrating hydro-carbon, and

vulcanizing ingredients, vulcanized together into a. firm, strongly flexible, waterproof, pliable, leather-like sheet.

11. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, composed of pulp-like filler material permeated with low-rnelting,

.vulcanizable, penetrating hydro-carbon, and vulcanizing ingredients, vulcanized together into a porous, firm, strongly flexible, waterproof,.]0lia.ble, leather-like sheet.

12. The herein described article, consisting of 'a' fabric sheet, composed of pulp-like filler material permeated with low-melting,

vulcanizable, penetrating hydro-carbon, hard,

and tough mineral tars, and vulcanizing ingredients. vulcanized together into a firm, I strongly flexible, Waterproof, pliable, leatherlike sheet.

v 13. The herein described article, compris- 6. The herein described article, consisting and pressure into a firm, strongly flexible,

a amer ing a composition of comminuted filler material of the kind mentioned, vulcani zing agents, and means for rendering the mass after vulcanization capable of softening without injury to its structural strength, all vulcanized together into a. tough, water proof, pliable, strongly flexible, leather-like condition.

14. The herein described article, comprising a vulcanized composition of comminuted filler material of the kind mentioned, vulcanizing agents, and means for rendering the masscapable of softening without injury to its structural strength, said composition being condensed in sheet form with an outside strong, tough, non-stretcluible layer.

15. The herein described article, comprising a layer of strong textile material, and a backing of vulcanized pulp vulcanized thereto.

16. The herein described article, comprising a light, porous, waterproof, tough, vulcanized sheet having a cloth outer layer vulcanized thereto, said article relenting to a soft condition under the influence of heat under 275 degrees F. Without permanent injury to its structural strength and setting instantly to molded shape upon being cooled.

17. The herein described article, consisting of a porous, waterproof, pliable, tough sheet containing a low-melting, sticky penetrating hydro-carbon.

18. The herein described article, consist ing of a porous, Waterproof, pliable, tough sheet containing a low-melting, sticky, penetrating hydro-carbon and a hard tarry residuum.

19. The herein. described article, consisting of a porous, Waterproof, pliable, tough sheet containing a lowanelting, sticky, penetrating lrwlr'oacarbon, and a tough, non-.

penetrating hydro-carbon.

20. The herein described article, consisting of a light. Waterproof, pliable, tough sheet capable of becoming moldably plastic ata temperature under 275 degrees Fahrenheit, and a facing layer of heavy stitch receiving fabric, the two being vulcanized together into a strongly flexible sheet.

QL'The herein described article, having its ingredients vulcanized together into a uniform, pliable, strongly flexible sheet,,and containing constituents rendering the vulcanized sheet moldable under the influence of high heat to pern'ianent local configuration While yet retaining its structural nature and strength.

22. The herein described article. consisting of a sheet of tough, Waterproof, pliable anaterial having a top layer of strong canvas vulcanized thereto, said. canvas side of said sheet having a molded stitch-retaining rib projecting therefrom, and the opposite side of said sheet being flat.

23. The herein described article, comprising a vulcanized sheet of composition sub- 24. The herein described article, compris- 7o face layer of heavy canvas and a body layer of composition subservient to heat to render the sheet locally moldable Without destroying its structu a l nature and strength.

The herein described article, comprising a vulcanized sheet consisting of tWo outside fabric layers and an intermediate layer of composition subservient to heat to render the sheet locally moldable without destroying its structural nature and strength.

26. The herein described article, consist ing of a sheet of light, porous, pliable, flexible composition, having a. projecting stitchreceiving rib molded therefrom on one side, the opposite side of said sheet being flat.

27. The herein described article, consisting of a sheet of light, porous, pliable, flexible composition, capable of becoming plastie and moldable under heat, having a projecting stitch-receiving rib molded therefrom on one side, the opposite side of said sheet being fiat.

28. The herein described article, consisting of a unitary sheet comprisin a surface layer of heavy canvas and a body of light, porous, pliable and flexible composition capable of becoming elastic and moldable under high heat insu icient to injure the canvas, having a projecting stitch-receiving rib molded therefrom on the canvas side of the sheet, the opposite side of the sheet being 29. The herein described article, consisting of a unitary sheet comprising opposite surface layers of textile fabric and an intermediate body of light, porous, pliable and flexible composition capable of becoming plastic and moldable under high heat insufficient to injure the textile fabric, having a projecting stitch-receiving rib molded therefrom on one side of the sheet, the opposite side of the sheet being flat.

30. The herein described article, consisting of a vulcanized sheet of composition, having a projecting stitch-receiving rib molded therefrom on one side, the opposite side of said sheet being flat.

31. The herein described article, consisting of a vulcanized sheet comprising a surface layer of heavy canvas and a body layer of composition, having a projecting stitchreceiving rib molded therefrom on the canvas side of the sheet, the opposite side of the sheet being fiat.

The herein described article, consisting of a vulcanized sheet comprising two outside fabric layers and an intermediate layer of composition subservient to heat to render the sheet locally moldable Without ing a vulcanized sheet consisting of a sur-' esasee destroying its structural natureand strength, and having a projecting stitch-receiving rib molded therefrom on one side, the opposite side of said sheet being flat.

The herein described article, having an internal layer of composition, a plane sheet backing on one side, and a strong textile layer such as canvas on the other side provided with a projecting stitch receiving rib, united together innnovably by said composition.

34:. The herein described article, having an internal layer of composition, a plane sheet backing on one side, and a strong textile layer such as canvas on the other side provided With a projecting stitch-receiving rib, united together by being incorporated.

into each other in mutually binding and interlocked relation.

85. The herein described article, comprising a layer of strong textile material, a composition body-layer, and a fiat backing, united in the order named, said textile layer having separated. projectin stitch-receiving ribs extending longitudina ly of the article adjacent the opposite edges thereof, and having its intervening area between said ribs held in apermanently stretched condipion by its union with said composition a er.

26, The herein described article, comprising a layer of strong textile material, a composition body layer, and a fiat backing, united in the order named, said textile layer having separated projecting stitch-receiving ribs extending longitudinally of the article adjacent the opposite edges thereof, and

' having its ribs and the intervening area between said ribs held in a permanently stretched condition by its union with said composition layer.

87. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, having an outside the said outside layer and its rib iminovably in place.

38. The herein described article, consist ing of a fabric sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canvas containing a projecting stitch-receiving rib formed therein, and

body-backing incorporated by pressure into said canvas and containing fibrous material and penetrating hydro-carbon, the Whole being. firm, flexible, and non-stretchable.

89. The herein described article, consisting of a fabric sheet, having an outside layer of heavy canvas containing a projecting stitch-receiving rib formed therein, and body-backing incorporated by pressure into said canvas and containing fibrous material and penetrating hydro-carbon, the Whole being firm, ilexible, Waterproof, and nonstretchable.

40. The herein described. article, consisting of a unitary sheet comprising a surface layer of heavy canvas and a body of light, and flexible composition capable of becoming plastic and moldable under high heat insuflicicnt to injure the canvas, having a stitch-receiving rib of the canvas projecting therefrom on the canvas side of the sheet, the opposite side of'the sheet being flat, and the Whole united together by the composition incorporated into the canvas.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses,

ANDREW THOMA.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. Maximum,

WM. J. Pine, 

